Chris Anthony

12th June – 11th july. Portsmouth  night  to Caen arriving next morning.  With Chris, Liz, Hugh. HUGH FLIGHT  Mon 30th june. Perpignan to Soton. Flybe 13.50  [check in by 12.50] arr 14.55.

Ouistraham, Richelieu, Argentat, St. Cricq, Matemale, Egat, Argeles - s - Mer, Touchan, Rieumontagne, Causses Mejean, Crox de Bor, Trizac, Le Bourg d'Hem, Le Ferte Bernard, Caen. Total distance, 1,701 miles.

CAEN
Ouistraham, Flers, Domfront, Mayenne, La Fleche, Saumur, Chinon, Richelieu   [225 miles]

1. 13th, 14th June. Richelieu. Simple municipal site 20 min. walk from nice small town and near huge park. Very good restaurants.
Camping Municipal. 7, route de Chatellerault.  47-58-15-02

Chatellerault, Chauvigny, Nr Limoge, free motorway to South of  Tulle,  Argentat. [4.5  hrs, 188 miles]

2.  15th – 18th June.Argentat. On bank of Dordogne. Excellent rapids. Very friendly. Small pool. 30min walk to Argentat. Good restaurants. Great walks and bike rides.
Camping Europe Le Chambon 05 55 28 07 70.   Le Chambon 19400 Monceaux sur Dordogne camping-europe@wanadoo.fr; Their website

Beaulieu, Gramat, Motorway past Cahors to nr Montauban, to near Cologne [West of Toulouse] [4.5 hours; 144 miles].

3.  19th , 20th June. Lac de Thoux, St. Cricq.  Wonderful site by lake. Pool was cold. Kayaked illegally in lake [no problem; maybe more difficult in full campsite].
Camping Lac de Thoux Saint-Cricq. +33(0)5 62 65 71 29 contact@camping-lacdethoux.com    Their website

St. Lys, Muret,  Le Fossat, Foix, Quillan, Axat, Matamale [6 hours; 157 miles].

4.  21st – 23rd June. Matamale. In Pyrenees. At 1500m.. Great village restaurant. Wonderful grassy site with sweet smeling conifers, nesting redstarts and good views. Near lake. Nearby swimming pool. Great walks and bike rides.
Camping du Lac. 04 68 30 9449      Their website        Near Les angles (Their website)

Mont Louis, Egat [16 miles]

5. 24th June. Egat. Mountainside site. Terraced. Good views. A few good walks. No challenge to Matemale.
Las Clottes, 4 rue de la Nalga 66120 Egat. 04 68 30 26 90    Their website     

Mont Louis, Prades, Thuir, Elne, Argeles-s-Mer [73 miles].

6. 25th – 29th June. Argeles Plages Wonderful pools and large site. Good bars, shop and excellent Restaurant. Next to beach. Nesting Hoopoes and nightingales. Good bike rides.
Le Soleil rte du Littoral 66700 ARGELES SUR MER 04 68 81 14 48     Their website

Perpignan airport,  Estagel, Paziols, Touchan [52 miles].

7. 30th June. La Peiriere, Touchan. Simple site very near village. Nice small pool. Simple good restaurant. Home of Fitou wine. Near MontAuch.
Camping La Peirière. 0033 468 454650     lapeiriere@caramail.com Their website   Review  

Durban Courbieres, Olonzac, St. Pons de Thomieres, La Salvetat, Rieu-Montagne [94 miles].

8.  1st, 2nd July. Indigo, Rieu-Montagne. Lac du Laouzas, Haute Languedoc.
Camping Indigo RIEUMONTAGNE. 81320 Nages. 33 56 33 72 471. Nicely separated plots with great views of lake. Small pool, restaurant and shop. Friendly staff.
Their website [this is general site can’t find this particular camp site].

Nages, Lacaune, Belmont, St. Affrique, Millau, Le Rozier, Meyrueis, Armand. Drigas, Nivoliers [105 miles].

9.  3rd, 4th July.  June Causse Mejean. Best wild camping in France. Amongst the pines and wild flowers. Overseen by vultures. Good bike rides and walks. A long way to civilisation so need to take plenty of water and food.
Wikipedia site

Mas-de-Val, St. Enimie, Sauveterre, Batsiege, Mende, Badaroux, Pelouse, Laubed, Rietort de Rendon, Estables, la Villedieu,  [69 miles].

10.  5th, 6th July. Col de Croix de Bor. Excellent wild camp site in Margeride hills. Up long track away from road. On edge of mixed forest. Great views, walks and bike rides.

St. Denis-en-Margerides, St. Alban-s-Limagnole, St. Chely-d-Apcher, St. Flour, Andelat, Allanche, Condat, Riom-es-Montagnes,  Trizac [104 miles]. NB This was an exploration. The direct route would be via St. Flour, Murat & Riom.

11.  Le Pioulat, Trizac in Cantal. Simple site in mountain village. Small lake for swimming. Nice views. Excellent walks over the plateau and long bike rides. nice small shops. Restaurants in village rarely open but good when they do open [we tend to go out of season]. The mayor got the restaurant to open and we had pigs cheek and other wonderful stuff.
TRIZAC Le Pioulat 04 71 78 64 20 mairie.trizac@wanadoo.fr  Their website

Mauriac, Neuvic [ NB v. good campsite by lake here 20 mile S of Ussel], Meymac, Millevaches, Aubusson, Jarnages, Chatelus Malvaleix, Bonnat, le Bourg d’Hem [136 miles].

12.  9th July. Le Bourg d’Hem.  D940. In Creuse region/Limousin. Great wooded site on side of lake. Good swimming. No restaurant. There is a ‘Grand Meaulnes Chateau hidden in the forest.
Camping Municipal de l'Age.  23220 Le Bourg-d'Hem. 05 55 62 84 36. info@les3lacs-creuse.com   Their website

Bonnat, La Chatre, St. Aout, Issoudun, Vatan, Valencay, Selles, Blois, Vendome, La Ferte Bernard [193 miles]

13. 10th July. La Ferte Bernard. Great site & restaurants. Town is interesting and near campsite.
Camping le Valmer  02 43 71 70 03      Their website

Belleme, Mortagne, Vimoutiers, Livarot, Troarn, Ouistraham. [140 miles].
CAEN.   

TOP 2008        TOP camping

Summary of itinery and sites. [In WORD for printing]     NB: Scroll down for pictures

25th June – 23rd July Portsmout/Caen, overnight ferry. With Chris, Liz, Hugh. Hugh returned 13th July from Avignon by flybe. Total distance = 1945 miles.

CAEN

Ouistraham, Bonneval, Patay, Meung s Loire, Laurotte-Beuvron, Aubigny, Sancerre, St. Thibault, St. Salut. [297miles]

1. 26th – 28th June.  St. Satur. A very nice riverside site near Sancerre with excellent restaurants in village and nice bike rides.
CAMPING RENE FOLTZER*** 0248 540467  Their website

La Charite, Nevers, Decize, Digoin, Roanne, St. Etienne, Vienne, St. Jean de Bournay (by D522).  [242 miles].
            
2. 29th June. Meyrieu les Etaings. Dull stopover lakeside site. In Isere region.
Base de loisirs du Moulin. Camping ***0474 593034      Their website 

Bourgoin-Jallieu, Chambery, Albertville, St Gervais, M. Blanc tunnel, Courmeyeur, St. Pierre, Cogne, Valnontey. [171].

3. 30th June – 2nd July. Valnontey.  Paradiso National Park Italy. High in the mountains with great views and walks. Very friendly site. Good restaurant nearby.
Campeggio Lo Stambecco. Village Valnontey 11012 Cogne, Vallée d'Aoste, Italie Tel. +39 0165 74152 campingstambecco@tiscali.it

Aosta, Pont St Martin, round Torino, Cuneo, Col de Larche [Colla della Maddalena]. [218 miles].

4. 3rd – 6th July. Domaine les Marmottes La Larche. At about 6000'. Our favourite mountain campsite. set amongst larches on the banks of fast river. Fieldfares, lesser whitethroated warblers. Excellent restaurant in site, run by the owners, and also in nearby village. Magnificent long walks.
Les Marmottes 04 92 84 33 64 64      Their website

Barcelonette, St, Vincen, Col de Labouret, Digne, Riez, D11 to St. Laurent. [112miles].

5. 7th – 11th July. La Farigoulette. St. Laurent. Lake nr Verdon Gorge. Nr Lac de St. Croix. Good lake for swimming and gorge for kayaking. Large site amongst pines. Small pool, and camp restaurant good. Very friendly. At bas of long steep. Nice walks and rides around the lake.
LA FARIGOULETTE  lac du St Laurent. 04 92 74 41 62. info@camping-la-farigoulette.com   Their website    For map  

Greoux, Vinou, Pertuis, Avignon. [95 miles].

6. 12th July. Le Port d’Avignon. Avignon. Site ok for short stay. Crowded but near town.
Camping Municipal du Pont d’Avignon 33 (0) 490 806 350    info@camping-avignon.com     Their website

Arles, Saintes Maries des Mers[169 miles]

7. 13th – 17th July. Clos du Rhone. Saintes Maries des Mers. Big dry site on edge of beach. Great walks and rides in the Camargue. Nice pool and small restaurant. 20 minute walk to Saintes Maries which is filled with tourists and every sort of restaurant.
Clos du Rhone. +33 (0)4 90 97 85 99  leclos@saintemaries.com     Their website

D998, St. Gilles, Nimes, Ales, La Grand Combe, Le Pont de Montvert, Finiel (on D20). [110 miles].

8. 18th – 19th July. Camping La Barrette, Le Pont de Montvert. Near Finiel on D20 Cevennes. Wonderful simple and wild. Excellent long walks. No restaurant or pool. Small.
04.66.45.81.82. or 04.66.45.82.16.    Their website

Col de la Tourettes, Laubert, Plad de Palaid du Roi, Samans, St. Chly, St. Flour, Murat, Riom, Trizac. [130 miles].

9. 20th -21st July. Le Pioulat, Trizac in Cantal. Simple site in mountain village. Excellent walks and long bike rides. Restaurants in village rarely open but good when they do open [we tend to go out of season]. Small lake for swimming. good views. Wonderful sunsets.
TRIZAC Le Pioulat 04 71 78 64 20 mairie.trizac@wanadoo.fr     Their website

By D978 to Mauriac then A89 [57 miles, 2 hours], Uzerches, Limoges, Argentan, Chateauroux, Vierzon, La Ferte St. Auban, Meung S. Loire, Ouzouer, St. Calais, Vibraye, Ferte St. Bernard. NB good plage site at Mauraillac la Croisille. [373].

10. 22nd July. La Ferte Bernard. Great site & restaurants. Town is interesting and near campsite.
Camping le Valmer  02 43 71 70 03   camping@la-ferte-bernard.com      Their website

Belleme, Mortagne, Vimoutiers, Livarot, Troarn, Ouistraham. [140 miles].

TOP 2007   TOP itineries   TOP camping

Wed 31 May - Mon 19th June.  Night. Portsmouth to Caen;  Caen to Portsmouth. Afternoon. Chris, Lizand Hugh. Hugh flight home Mon 19th June: Flybe from Perpignan. 13.50 arrive 14.55. Total 1822 miles.

CAEN
Ouistraham, Flers, Dom, Mayenne, Sable, La Fleche [183 miles]

1. 1st June. Saumur.  1 night only as pool was closed. Excellent large site on island in Loire. 20 min to town. Super pool with nice bar and restaurant.
Camping Ile d’Offard  0241 403000  iledoffard@cvtloisirs.fr    Their website

Richelieu [at 50miles; good camping], Chateaurault, Chauvigny, Limoges, Tulle [220 miles]

2. 2-6th June. Argentat. On bank of Dordogne. Excellent rapids. Very friendly. Small pool. 30min walk to Argentat. Good restaurants. Great walks and bike rides.
Camping Europe Le Chambon 05 55 28 07 70.   Le Chambon 19400 Monceaux sur Dordogne camping-europe@wanadoo.frTheir website

Vayrac, Caneda, Sarlat, Le Bugue, Villefrance, Fumel, Montaigu de Quercy, side road [160 miles]

3. 7th June. Touflailes. Frogs, and traffic after 7.0am. good bakery.

Moissac, Toulouse, motorway, Carcassone  [122 miles]

4. 8th June. Carcassone. Campsite walking distance from town.
Campeole Camping de la Cite  0468 251177     cite@campeole.com    Their website

Limoux, Quillan, Axat, Gorge St Georges [wonderful road] [79 miles]

5. 9th - 13th june Matamale. In Pyrenees. At 1500m.. Great village restaurant. Wonderful grassy site with sweet smeling conifers, nesting redstarts and good views. Near lake. Nearby swimming pool. Great walks and bike rides.
Camping du Lac. 04 68 30 9449     Their website      Near Les angles [their website]

Mont Louis, Bourg-Madam, SN152, , Spain, Prats de Molles, Arles, Ceret, Taxo D’Avall to D87 [141 miles]

6. 14 - 18th June. Argeles Plages Wonderful pools and large site. Good bars, shop and excellent Restaurant. Next to beach. Nesting Hoopoes and nightingales. Good bike rides.onderful pool and site. Good bike rides. Restaurant. Next to beach. Nesting Hoopoes.
Le Soleil rte du Littoral 66700 ARGELES SUR MER 04 68 81 14 48

Perpignan airport, Narbonne D607 – 907 [???]

7. 19-20th June St Pons-Thoniere in Haute Languedoc. Dutch site communal dinner is provided on some evenings. Long walk down to town. Karen & Martin. Wooded nice shady site but few facilities.

Lacaune, Belmont, St Affrique, Millau, Le Rozier les Vignes, Gorges des Tarn, St Enemie, 9886,  Mas de Va. Long steep climb out of Gorge [102 miles]

8. 21st June Causse Mejean. Best wild camping in France. Amongst the pines and wild flowers. Overseen by vultures. Good bike rides and walks. A long way to civilisation so need to take plenty of water and food.

St enemie, Ispagnac, Col de Montmirat, Barrege, [A75 ]. St. Chely, [St Flour], Massiac, [Clermand- Ferrand], [A719], Gannat, Vichy A71 [241 miles]

9. 2 nights Chatel Montagne. Friendly site. Few facilities. Nice walk to village with excellent restaurant. Pool closed in low season.
Camping La Coix Congnat 03250 Chatel-Montagne 0033 - (0)4 70 59 31 38    campinglacroixcognat@wanadoo.fr  Their website

La Palise, St Pourcain, Montmarault, motorway, Vierzon, Romarantin, Blois, Vendome, St Calais, Vibraye, Ferte Bernard [293 miles]

10. Senonches.